Pros & Cons of Virtual Schooling

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Over 90 courses* for virtual schooling are offered to many West Virginia high school students. The advantages of that seem to outweigh the disadvantages, which is the opposite case for elementary and middle schools, so the high school-only current availability seems appropriate. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of virtual schooling across the different grade levels.

Virtual Schooling Advantages:
  • Elementary School: Ability to enhance the development of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills that help students to properly manipulate pencils, scissors, and other supplies; Help with early computer literacy
  • Middle School: Variety of course options could boost self-discovery, help find interests, and give students a voice by allowing them to choose classes; Early exposure to classes that may be required in high school could leave students with a good deal of background knowledge when they reach high school, possibly making their courses easier and in turn, boosting GPAs and chances for merit-based scholarships
  • High School: Gives the opportunity to heighten self-awareness and increase personal responsibility, leading to self-discipline; Good preparation for after high school, whether it be the work force or more schooling, since it is not uncommon for many programs to require online certifications or classes; Schedule flexibility with virtual schooling can also allow time for decent job hours

Virtual Schooling Disadvantages:
  • Elementary School: Requires computer literacy and an access to the appropriate technology; Requires a certain amount of self-discipline, including self-motivation, organization, critical thinking skills, and communication, that elementary age children have not developed yet; Makes it harder for students to learn active listening, collaboration, relationship skills, social awareness, and social skills due to not physically being in a school, and could leave students socially ill-equipped for their future
  • Middle School: Students have few productive options for the extra time that virtual schooling may allow and are likely too old for childcare but still too young for even a part-time job; Most middle school aged children are working to develop the Belonging leaf of their PEAR clover, meaning they need empathy, strong relationships, and trust, and virtual schooling doesn’t give students the needed opportunities to develop that leaf of the clover for the balance needed for resiliency
  • High School: Harder to tailor messages and cater lessons to students that teachers won’t personally connect with or get to know; Harder to form study groups with students working at their own pace and having as many course options that are given with virtual school

Conclusion:
  • Both advantages and disadvantages of virtual schools are present across all grade levels
  • Advantages in the high school space seem to outweigh the disadvantages
  • High school students have more access to extra-curricular and out-of-school opportunities that elementary and middle school students aren’t given, so that helps make up for the high school disadvantages
  • High school-only current availability seems appropriate because if done correctly, that is where it would be most effective as by that age, students are mostly equipped with the needed skills to succeed in virtual schooling, and have productive options for the free time

*Courses offered:
  • Two semesters or two parts: Web Page Publishing; AP Art History; Art History & Criticism Honors Level; Guitar I; Music of the World; Algebra I HS + Honors; Algebra II + Honors; AP Calculus AB & BC; Pre-Calculus Honors; AP Statistics; AP English Language and Composition; English 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12; Reading MS; AP English Literature and Composition; AP Biology; Biology/Biology Honors; Chemistry; AP Environmental Science; Physics; Earth Space Science; Marine Science; World History; AP Psychology; Global Studies; AP Human Geography; AP United States History; AP Computer Science A; Leadership Skills Development; Latin I, II, and III Honors; and Spanish III
  • One semester or one part: Life Management Skills; Fitness Lifestyle Design; Personal Fitness: Foundations of Fitness and Wellness; M/J Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Learning; AP Government and Politics: United States; Civics: American Government; AP Macroeconomics; AP Microeconomics; Economics; Keyboarding/Middle School; and Chinese 3: Semester 2


References include:
  • Course Catalog. West Virginia Department of Education.
  • Greutman, H. (2017). 25 Fine Motor Activities for Older Kids (Ages 6+). Growing Hands-On Kids.
  • Lemma. (2015). Why Self Discipline is the Key to Success in Online Courses. Charter College.
  • Noam, G. (2017). The Clover Model of Youth Development. The PEAR Institute.
  • News and Important Information. (2017). WV Virtual School.